LADIES AND GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES ... BUT DO NOT PUT THE PEDAL TO THE MEDAL RATHER JUST EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD !!!

 

MARS, the planet representing the urge to get what you want, sexual drive, initiative, courage, raw energy and desires, completed its RETROGRADE journey for 2024/2025 on Sunday, February 23rd, at 9:00 PM EST ... the purpose of a Mars retrograde ultimately is to evaluate what it is that motivates you and for you to determine if you are on the correct path to achieve your goal, and if you are doing what you should be doing to get there ... inside the Mars retrograde, it was time for all of us to adjust our actions and aggressive instincts to ensure that ones intent is accomplished effectively ... this often includes going back over previous actions and having to redo them or let them go in order to move forward ... also, old resentments and personal issues that had not been resolved in the past may have had the tendency of resurfacing during this period which yielded the awareness that the time had come to develop new strategies and approaches for dealing with issues, anger and learning assertiveness ... Mars takes a retrograde journey for about 9 - 10 weeks out of its 26 month cycle !!!




Mars retrograde could have brought issues of frustration or hostility to the surface we have deliberately suppressed due to their disruptive qualities which can cause forward movement in our lives to be temporarily delayed ... sudden reversals of interest and drive may have occurred, as well as the termination of a long term goal as it may have become apparent that the effort was inappropriate for the long term ... also old wounds, hurts and frustrations may have arisen seemingly out of context but usually there was a purpose for this ... during a Mars retrograde it is usually a good idea NOT to undertake any new beginnings per contract or verbally since the energy often isn't there to carry it through ... now sometimes you couldn't just "sit tight" for nearly two and a half months, but there are good reasons, if at all possible, as the waiting may ultimately prove to be a blessing in the long run ... often things begun under a Mars retrograde will begin to run into problems when it stations back into direct motion possibly on Sunday, at some point during the next two years, or even when Mars takes its next retrograde journey January through April 2027 !!!




This Mars retrograde was a dual sign retrograde going from 6 degrees 10 minutes Leo back to 17 degrees Cancer ... if you have had a natal chart done, you can look to where these degrees fall by house and/or houses in order to see if  you had to rethink some kind of action you may have taken or where you might have encountered delays and frustrations and had to shift into a different direction in whatever area of life the house or houses rule where these degrees fell ... if you were born with your natal Sun between 17 degrees Cancer and 6 degrees 10 minutes Leo, at some point Mars crossed back over your natal Sun and, among other things, there could have been a few days when you felt as if someone really unplugged your energy outlet - many of us may have had that feeling off and on during the entire Mars retrograde cycle !!!




If you have any natal planets in the signs of Cancer and Leo within these degrees you probably experienced some kind of energy produced in relation to the planet and the area of life in which house it is placed when Mars backed over that planet ... also Mars may have produced some action if it made an aspect to other planets in your natal chart regardless of sign but still within the same range of degrees ... Many would agree this Mars retrograde became especially challenging and frustrating !!!

Since Mars was last retrograde from October 30th, 2022 through January 12th, 2023, what actions were possibly begun then that now had to be readdressed, readjusted, reworked, or simply had run their course, ran out of "steam" and come to a necessary ending needing to be released, or concluded but not by our choice, in order to promote further personal and spiritual growth ??? ... and undoubtedly you may be readdressing some of these issues, including the issues encountered from September 4th, 2024 up until the retrograde period ended yesterday as Mars now moves forward over those degrees up until it exits its retrograde zone on May 2nd !!! 

Mars retrograde energy had the potential to produce some unwanted action if it aspected other planets in your natal chart regardless of sign but still within the same range of degrees ... as with Mercury retrograde periods, sometimes those born with Mars retrograde will find this period more productive since they are already comfortable and have a better understanding of this backwards energy ... in a natal chart, those born with Mars retrograde are said to have actions in the current life that are recreations of the past to deal with, they probably abused the principles of aggression and personal initiative, and they are frequently in competition with themselves !!!

Mars is the ruling planet of Aries which is the natural ruling sign on the 1st house, or Ascendant, which is considered a house of Life ... its keyword is identity ... the 1st house represents your personality, your natural disposition and tendencies, your individuality and the way you express yourself, how people see you and the way you want others to see you, the way you "package" and "market" yourself, your reputation, your physical body, your health, early childhood years, your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance and the beginnings of all enterprises you undertake ... so there was the potential for issues to arise in these areas especially if some of the actions were taken during the last Mars retrograde or during the current Mars retrograde !!!




Mars represents your animal nature, desires, sexual energies, assertiveness, force, power, construction, work, strife, competition, surgery and operations, weapons, war, accidents, inflammations, wounds, cuts, burns, scalds, violence, tools, iron and steel, actions that are sudden, self-assertive and disruptive actions, and energy that can be used destructively and angrily or with courage and strength ... all of these areas were vulnerable to issues during the entire retrograde period as it is Mars which is in retrograde !!! ... In regards to health, the areas especially subject to issues during the entire retrograde are the head and face !!!

This Mars retrograde began in Leo ... the Sun is the ruling planet of Leo ... as such, the issues that could have arisen during this portion of the retrograde include: the persons main method of personal expression, qualities of leadership and success, the masculine principle, the father, the husband and men in general, health and vitality, authority and bosses, rank, title, high office, progress, dignity, energy, sense of identity and capacity for experience !!!

The Sun naturally rules the 5th house of the horoscope which is considered a house of life whose keyword is identity ... within its domain there could be issues to have arisen which include: children, artistic expression, love affairs, romance, pleasures, amusements, holidays, vacations, games, speculations, hobbies and avocation, your emotional attitude and the love you give, your enterprise, sports, originality and creative outlets, dramatic, literary or artistic ability, publications, politics, the fine arts, social affairs, pregnancy, the education of children, and any groups to which you belong which relate to having fun !!!

On January 6th, Mars returned to the sign of Cancer, a sign that it is already weakened in as it is considered to be in its fall, and the focus shifted ... not to say there weren't any issues running concurrently with the beginning of this retrograde period, but the following were added to the list of potential challenges ... the Moon is the ruling planet of Cancer and it involves the domestic, nurturing urge as well as the emotions ... therefore issues that could have arisen include: the female principle: mother, wife and women in general, instincts, moods, tides, phases, receptivity, fluctuations, feelings, habit patterns, reflex actions, personal interests, desires, needs, magnetism, growth and fertility, the need to touch, impressionability, consciousness, liquids, commodities, sailing, brewing, nursing, tradespeople and the public in general !!!

The Moon naturally rules the 4th house of the horoscope which is considered a house of endings whose keyword is security ... as such, there could have been issues also to arise which include: your home, your parents, the family you came from (your roots so to speak), the home you will establish, your heritage, heredity, ancestry, your psychological roots and private life, property - including houses, real estate and all that is secluded, the closing years of life, the ending of all matters, fame after death, place of burial, the parent who has the greater influence on you as a child, your subjective self, the nurturing parent, and the foundation on which you build your character !!!

In regards to potential health issues, keep in mind for the first 10 days of this retrograde Mercury retrograde was imbedded in it and Mercury is the natural ruler of the 6th house which includes health and thus having increased the potential for health issues in general ... specifically to this Mars retrograde these would be the areas to have been potentially affected by this energy:

Mars: external reproductive organs, head and face

Sun: the heart, upper back, right eye of the male, left eye of the female

Moon: breasts, stomach, digestion, left eye of the male, right eye of the female

ARIES born - this was your period to slow down and in some cases stop - WHICH YOU DO NOT LIKE TO DO AT ALL !!! - in order to review and rethink what had been going on in your life especially in regards to what may have transpired in your life since January 12th, 2023 when Mars, being your ruling planet, last stationed back into direct motion !!!

Even though Aries born individuals may have been more sensitive to the reversal of energy, we all may have experienced it or possibly witnessed it somewhere in our lives or others lives, and lights may now begin to come on in our heads as we may discover that perhaps we should either have waited a while longer before taking a particular course of action or possibly realizing we should have never taken that course of action to begin with in certain situations !!!




Mars remains in direct motion until January 10th, 2027 when it begins its next retrograde journey, lasting until April 1st, 2027, which will be a dual sign retrograde period going from 10 degrees 25 minutes Virgo back to 20 degrees 55 minutes Leo ... once again, Mars will exit its retrograde zone on May 2nd !!!

For those of you born between December 7th and February 22nd, you definitely got this Mars retrograde energy somewhere in your astrological birthday chart - known as a solar return - for the whole year ahead ... however, those born on December 6th or February 23rd may or may not have gotten this retrograde energy depending on the time of your solar return for the current year ... to review, below is what noted astrologer Mary Fortier Shea has to say about having Mars retrograde in the birthday chart - also known as the Solar Return:

"When Mars is retrograde in the solar return chart, the individual must work with the process of self-motivation. This is a good time to work on a long-term project, especially one involving the need to repeatedly push yourself  toward achievement. You are the motivating force. No one else can get you to move. It is very unlikely that you will be motivated by others since personal goals will seem more important than the conflicting goals of others. If you cannot motivate yourself or direct your energy in a useful manner, you will feel listless and tired. This is an extremely useful retro gradation for those who are goal-oriented; unfortunately, it can be a very counterproductive placement for those who are not.




The way you choose to handle anger is symbolized by Mars retrograde. Usually, there is a desire to avoid confrontation and conflict. You may be unable or unwilling to express anger outwardly. Furthermore, you might find it difficult to be openly aggressive or even assertive given the situations you are involved with. If this is so, you could resort to passive-aggressive behavior or manipulation if it seems impossible to deal with a present situation on a rational level. For example, if you are taking care of a cantankerous and senile relative, confrontation and rational discussion will not improve your relationship, but refusing to engage in conflicts and stressing the humor of the situation may. You can manipulate your way around the old coot with love and understanding in your heart. Having Mars retrograde in a solar return chart signals the need to reassess the appropriateness of anger and conflict in certain situations where it may actually be totally useless. It is not the answer to all situations and you can learn to use other tactics.




If you are involved in difficult circumstances, you may not defend yourself against the criticism of others. And  in fact, you could see yourself as responsible to some extent for the situations you are involved in. This is a time when you are more apt to get in touch with the role you, yourself, play in creating stress. You could blame yourself and be very self-critical of your own behavior. Positively, we can look upon this year as a time when you are more apt to see self-defeating situations and take corrective action. It is fairly common to realize the existence of at least one self-defeating situation or personality pattern during the year.




Mars retrograde, at its worst manifestation, can have a self-destructive interpretation. It is possible that you will place yourself (through your own doing) in a situation that causes you difficulty or pain. You will have the ability to withdraw from the situation, but might choose to remain throughout the solar return year. This may sound like a horrible manifestation, but it is not necessarily so ... The house placement of Mars will relate to the self-defeating or self-destructive attitudes and may symbolize this negative behavior in relationships, career practices, financial responsibility, etc. If one concentrates on the issues, solutions can be found and there will be no need to remain in compromising situations."

For those of you born between November 27th and December 14th, you got both the Mercury and Mars retrograde energy in your solar return chart for the year ahead ... those born on November 27th or December 15th may or may not have gotten these two retrograde energies depending on the time of your solar return for 2024 !!!

Below is a "reminder" of what the energy of Mars in Cancer has the potential to produce as it moves forward to finally complete its transit through Cancer before finishing its complete transit through Leo next :

Mars being a fiery planet does not fare too well in a water sign like Cancer as water tends to rain on its parade of initiative as well as aggression which in some cases can be a very good thing and in others cases very detrimental to its course of intended action !!!

Mars in Cancer is said to be in the sign of its "Fall" - that is it's in the sign opposite of Capricorn, where it is Exalted and tends to function even more efficiently than in the sign it naturally rules which is Aries ... so this Mars often has trouble expressing its true nature ... it's "fire" gets "watered" down and that can either produce irritating steam or sensual steamy energy ... it is like staying in someone's home where you do not feel comfortable !!! ... Mars was last in Cancer from March 25th through May 20th, 2023 - anything come to mind from that period in regards to this kind of energy produced when Mars transits Cancer ???

Mars in Cancer can be highly emotional and is pulled between expressing its feelings and holding them in ... there is a great need for emotional security ... one may assert themselves here indirectly, shyly, sensitively or carefully, but this Mars is definitely prone to emotional outbursts ... identity is closely tied to home, family, and feelings ... energy levels seem to rise and fall with ones moods ... if your heart is involved in something, then this energy can truly accomplish anything it sets its mind out to do ... anger is more often expressed through crying rather than screaming and yelling ... one has to be careful with this energy not to give too much to others just to avoid confrontation !!!



Mars in Cancer shows us that to get what we want, we must do so through nurturing ... its fighting or taking flight ... the sex drive is usually very strong here but that can be good or bad depending on how the energy is expressed ... one of the challenges with this energy is to find out what is really making you angry and deal with it ... figure out who or what it is that you genuinely care about also ... ultimately we must learn where the fine line falls between stimulation and outright aggravation !!! ... We now leave behind our minds being set on fire for a thirst of knowledge as well as the desire to move about and that drive becomes turned deeply inward to address our emotions and what we feel we must nurture !!! 

As Cancer is ruled by the Moon, and the Moon naturally rules the 4th house, we may encounter problems with the stomach - there could be a lot of you out there that become the victim of reflux, acid indigestion, heartburn, and frequent upset stomach issues ... also the home, family, the mother or a maternal figure, women in general and the public in general are areas where one could find issues arising if you react too quick without thinking things through ... and of course whichever house or houses the complete degrees of Cancer fall in your natal chart is certainly where you will find this increased "watered down burning" drive to occur !!!

This Martian energy likes close involvements, a secure sex life, and an active home life ... it does not like mild mannered emotions, distress within the family setting, inner doubts and domestic "fires" ... the energy of Mars in Cancer can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: sensuous, provocative, passionate, sexually subtle, tenacious, protective, bold, hardworking, complex, adaptable, sensitive, healing, intuitive, original, occultist


NEGATIVE: irritable, evasive, too intense, sexually unsure, possessive, defensive, compulsive, neurotic, moody, quarrelsome, confusing, fatalistic, weird, spooky/spooked



Mars is currently the only planet transiting through the sign of  Cancer and that may be enough at the moment considering all of the emotional issues we all are trying to deal with in our lives - especially with an upcoming Venus retrograde that will have the first Mercury retrograde of 2025 completely embedded in it ... Mars will not make its complete transit through Cancer until April 17th/18th, 2025 !!!

CANCER BORN, there exists the potential for you to become restless and/or "fired up" about something or someone during this extended period ... as always be careful not to incinerate, or in this case should I say perhaps be careful not to flood others with your heightened emotional state, the object of your increased drive and desire - and that goes for everyone as well !!!

We all will be experiencing this energy on some level of our lives ... we will be urged to keep the "home fires" brightly lit, but we must be careful not to go overboard and end up  "burning down the house" or "crying yourself a river" !!!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN START YOUR ENGINES ... but somewhat cautiously as Venus will begin its next retrograde journey on Saturday, March 1st at 7:36 PM EST ... be careful not to put the pedal to the metal and start going too far too fast just yet ... perhaps you might want to take some sage advice from Dorothy and her friends and simply "ease on down the road" !!! 

DREAM, MYSTIFY, CREATE, INSPIRE, ENLIGHTEN, BE COMPASSIONATE - BUT BEWARE THE WATERY DEPTHS OF ADDICTION, DEPRESSION & DECEPTION !!!

The SUN began its transit through the dreamy, mystical, self-sacrificing sign of Pisces today, February 18th at 5:07 AM EST ... the 12th and final sign of the astrological "year" and the final sign of Winter in the Northern hemisphere and Summer in the Southern hemisphere ... the solar energy now shifts from the rebellious, unpredictable marching to the beat of a different drummer to "swimming" through emotionally compassionate yet sometimes very confusing and deceptive waters ... don't be surprised if waves of emotions play a large part in your life experiences and decisions over the next 30 days !!!

While the Sun transits through Pisces, one may be encouraged to strive to create beauty, become more compassionate, to gain insight from allowing psychic openness, or seek recognition through spiritual or mystical paths ... those born under the sign of Pisces have come in with a soul lesson of needing to learn peace !!!

Pisces is a feminine, water, mutable (flexibility/changeability) sign ... its symbol is two fish tied together - swimming in opposite directions which signify hidden depths, shifting emotional currents, conflicting desires and extremes of temperament ... its glyph is considered a picture of the human feet ... in symbolic terms the glyph is two crescent moons connected by a straight line representing emotion and higher consciousness tied to and limited by the material world ... its key phrase is "I BELIEVE" and its keyword is UNDERSTANDING ... it is the sign opposite of Virgo ... anatomically it rules the pineal glands - in association with its ruling planet - and the feet !!!



The modern ruling planet of Pisces is Neptune (Jupiter is the ancient ruler) - Ancient God of the seas, second of the modern planets to be discovered (1846), and is the planet of illusion, glamour, mystery, and deception ... Neptune represents the spiritual and the escapist urge, and its keyword is INTUITION ... it rules maritime matters, liquids, music, movies, stage and television, dreams, delusion, spirituality, ideals, mystique, hunches, creative functions, and things we take  deeply for granted in life without questioning ... it also governs fog, petroleum, mystery, anesthetics, flattery, intangibles, fragrances, second sight, love of poetry, color and dancing ... in addition under its rule comes drugs and drug addiction, alcoholism, hypochondria, sleepwalking, trances, hypnosis, immateriality and abnormality ... its action is often subtle and gradual ... it is the higher vibrational octave of Venus and considered to be the second of the transcendental planets ... where you find Neptune in your natal chart is where you seek the "ideal", but where you also might tend to deceive yourself and/or others !!!



Pisces is the natural sign and ruler of the 12th house of the horoscope ... the keyword for the 12th house is SUBCONSCIOUS and it is a house of endings - after all it is the final sign of the zodiac!!! ... the 12th house represents your inner strengths and weaknesses ... it depicts behind the scenes activity - including clandestine affairs - restorative solitude, places of quiet reflection, sorrows, handicaps, secrets, seclusion and frustration ...it can also indicate places of confinement such as jails, hospitals or mental institutions, as well as secret (hidden) enemies, restraint, inhibitions, exile, hidden dangers and self-undoing ...it shows the things we hide from others, and research, background, subjective sustainment, inner consciousness and the subconscious mind !!!



Here we also find charity, sympathy and public welfare ... it is frequently referred to as the closet or dustbin of ones horoscope since it is in this house where we tend to sweep away or hide problems which are often too painful to face or difficulties that we refuse to acknowledge ... sometimes it can be a very creative area of the natal horoscope and can reflect ones aptitude for art, music, dancing, writing or acting !!!



Sun in Pisces teaches us how we increase personal growth and awareness through accepting ... life is a mystery and each one of us IS the mystery !!! ... under this energy one is innately aware and appreciative of all walks of life ... here one recognizes that the Soul of anything or of anyone is synonymous with sensitivity, which is synonymous with suffering, which is something one is undeniably aware of - joy and sorrow are one ... the energy of the Sun in Pisces can be expressed in the following ways:


POSITIVE: compassionate, self-sacrificing, suffers artistically, unassuming, self-effacing, gentle, still but stirring, wise, accepting, adaptable, confided in, sensitive, fascinating, mysterious, imaginative, multi-talented, selfless, devoted, easygoing


NEGATIVE: self-pitying, the human doormat, suffers needlessly, indecisive, self-limiting, wimpish, inwardly storm-tossed, inner doubts, oblivious, vague, not forthcoming, escapist, deceptive, self-mystifying, impressionable, pointless, slaving, lazy



HAPPY SOLAR RETURN ALL PISCES BORN - your new astrological year has begun !!!  

The Sun, which now joins Mercury, Saturn and Neptune already transiting through the sign of Pisces ... the Sun remains in Pisces until March 20th !!!

Through the energy of Pisces, one can INSPIRE others in many ways while being influenced - just don't forget to take some credit for it but then forget that you did ... give yourself to yourself before anyone else ... become illuminated and enlightened - now is the time to explore your spirituality and life's intriguing mysteries !!!

Dream, mystify, create, inspire, enlighten, be compassionate and believe in those fairy tale endings ... BUT ... be cautious ere you make a dangerous detour and fall into the watery depths of addiction, depression and deception !!! 

THINKING THROUGH WHAT WE ARE WILLING AND CAPABLE OF ACCEPTING - THE ABILITY TO TOUCH MENTALLY THE COLLECTIVE UNCONSCIOUS !!!

MERCURY began its dream-like transit through the highly perceptive, psychic sign of Pisces on Friday, February 14th, at 7:06 AM EST ... while Mercury is in Pisces, the thinking and communicating will be greatly influenced by and through our emotions as Pisces is a water sign, so the mind and tongue will tend to be sensitive, or overly sensitive in some cases, and intuitive with a large dose of compassion thrown in ... Mercury was last in Pisces from February 23rd through March 10th, 2024 !!!

Mercury is said to be in "detriment" in Pisces ... in "detriment" as it is in the sign opposite to the one it naturally rules - in this case being in Pisces opposite to Virgo one of the two signs it naturally rules ... so it is not operating at its full power taking on more of the signs rather than the planet's coloration, and thus visiting where it must conform to rules and regulations of that particular sign ... however, even though it may be frequently challenged by this, Mercury in Pisces still has great potential to produce some highly inspired and creative thinking and ways of communicating !!!

One will often express their intelligence sympathetically ... if one feels safe they can be talkative and very sociable, but if not they will clam up very fast ... this energy gives one a poetic expression or ones language may be lovely and engaging ... communication here is made idealistically, imaginatively or perhaps evasively ... frequently one can make communications with other people on a non-verbal level, and one may be psychically or spiritually tuned in ... one can uplift others through their thinking and/or communicating ... often there is a wonderfully creative imagination and beauty can be created with either the mind or with ones hands ... interests are usually geared toward areas that are inspirational such as art, nature or the spirit !!!

One could be inclined towards fantasy, evasion, avoidance or denial if what is perceived does not match ones inner ideals ... the phrase "what if ???" may frequently cloud the reasoning process with this energy ... overall, one can be quite flexible in their thinking, have a holistic approach, or even have a natural talent for synthesizing and seeing the whole of any situation ... sometimes the energy of Mercury in Pisces can produce the image of the "absent minded" professor ... one must also take extra care here as Pisces, which is ruled by Neptune the planet of illusion and escapism, can lure one to escape "mental" reality especially through drugs and alcohol !!!

Mercury in Pisces teaches us how to think and process through what we are willing and capable of accepting ... it's the poetic mind ... the dreamer of dreams ... the mind is very sensitive under this energy and it can absorb as much information as - if not more than - it learns ... sometimes thoughts and notions will appear to have come from "somewhere else" which will cause doubt in their truth and thus eventually lead to a form of mental exhaustion as a result of resisting cerebral sensitivity and reasoning ... even though this is more the mind of the poet rather than the technician, one is still able to "dream up" both scientific and artistic visions ... here the mind thinks in pictures and one can richly profit by drawing from ones dream life ... it is highly suggested to keep a dream journal - you may be surprised how creatively and divinely inspiring, and in some cases down right prophetic, your dreams become from the unconscious influence of the universe !!!

Mercury in Pisces bestows the potential ability to be in touch mentally with the Collective Unconscious and navigate the vast sea of all the thoughts and feelings that ever were or ever will be ... it is wise to accept and to understand the channel-like quality of ones mind here and to always give expression to what is coming through ... the energy of Mercury in Pisces can be expressed the following ways:

POSITIVE: imaginative, sensitive mind, visually aware, artistic, obliging, psychic, good instincts, receptive, humorous, versatile, good mimic, highly perceptive, philosophical, dreamer, good long-term memory, accepting, refined mind, contemplative, gentle, sympathetic

NEGATIVE: suspicious, evasive, easily freaked out, lazy, easily swayed, irrational, fearful, gullible, obscure, vague, uncommunicative, absent-minded, bad short-term memory, elusive, weak-minded, slow, wimpish, at a loss for words, seeing things

Mercury in Pisces encourages each one to understand that what one lacks in knowledge one makes up for in understanding - so take your time ... you have the power to choose what you take "on board" as you navigate through these emotional waters, and it's up to you to discover how to use it ... use your imagination in a creative fashion instead of becoming a victim of it !!!

Mercury now joins the Saturn and Neptune already transiting through the mystical "waters" of Pisces with the Sun to join the party on February 18th ... the mind will certainly be actively influenced by many inspirational and highly imaginative factors, and possibly as well as being influenced by a "higher" realm of inspiration ... it is up to each one of us to determine what is real and what is fleeting ... keep an open mind and allow the Universe to show you a slice of its infinite wisdom and its creative process at work and how you might incorporate that into producing greater personal and spiritual growth in your life !!!

Mercury will not be through with its transit through Pisces until April 14th/15th depending on which time zone in which you live and you probably have guessed why by now !!!

Mercury will actually complete its first transit through Pisces on March 3rd but only get as far as 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries when it begins its first retrograde journey for 2025 on March 14th/15th lasting until April 7th going from 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries back to 26 degrees 49 minutes Pisces ... AND ... to add to the potential confusion and mayhem, the Mercury retrograde will be embedded in the upcoming Venus retrograde which occurs from March 1st through April 12th going from 10 degrees 50 minutes Aries back to 24 degrees 37 minutes Pisces ... obviously both Mercury and Venus will be in retrograde in the same signs and at very close degrees which could potentially make things very interesting and challenging especially depending in which houses these signs and degrees are in your natal chart ... Mercury enters its next shadow point on March 1st the day Venus stations retrograde ... BUT ... good news ... only 7 more days until this pesky Mars retrograde which began back on December 6th, 2024 is FINALLY over !!!

Meanwhile it's time to "begin, with a spin ... traveling in the world of our own creation ... what we'll see ... will defy ... explanation" !!!

THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME IMPASSIONED ABOUT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING ... OR BOTH - BUT WILL IT HAVE LONGEVITY ???

 

THE THRILL OF THE CHASE ... I'VE GOT YOU ... IT’S OVER ... GOODBYE !!! ... moving right along - NEXT !!! ... and just like that, what we thought we so passionately and romantically desired suddenly loses its initial appeal ... that is what many of us have the potential to experience on some level in our lives as Venus "burned" its way into and began its prolonged transit through the the fiery sign of Aries on Tuesday, February 4th, at 2:57 AM EST ... Venus was last in Aries from April 5th through April 29th, 2024 !!!

Venus is now in a "heated relationship" with Mars, which rules Aries, and that often potentially causes multiple problems on many different levels in our lives - especially in partnerships and relationships both public and private ... and keep in mind for the first 20 days of this transit Mars is currently retrograde until February 23rd making an already challenging "relationship" even more so ... Venus is considered to be in detriment in Aries as it is in a sign opposite the one it naturally rules - in this case Libra ... being in detriment a planet is not really operating at full power ... it's like visiting where you must conform to rules and regulations thus hindering your natural expression !!!

There is the potential for many of us to become impassioned about someone or something or both ... we will pursue it with total dedication and determination ... and if we finally get it, we could find ourselves ultimately asking the question WHY especially after it loses its initial appeal and novelty !!! ... of course some of us may also find ourselves outright overly horny, some more so than usual that is, as we are "burning with desire" !!! ... Venus in the fire sign of Aries will seek its interactions with others and pursue things passionately, romantically, excitedly and adventurously !!!

Venus represents our social urge and our sense of values ... it rules the signs of Taurus and Libra and is the natural ruler of the 2nd house - a house of substance representing your emotional need for fulfillment and feelings, your values, your sense of self-worth, your inner talents and resources and your earning power .... its the house of material debt .... Venus is also the natural ruler of the 7th house - a house of face-to-face relationships where the keyword is cooperation which might be somewhat lacking while Venus moves through Aries as we tend to be a little slack with our social graces at times along the way .... it represents both social, business and personal relationships ... its a house of open enemies and you may well find them during this transit so best to think twice before speaking which makes this transit very challenging ... the 7th house also indicates what you most lack  about yourself being opposite the 1st house, and you might find an increased desire to fill that void wherever it is perceived ... Venus is the anatomical ruler of the throat, chin, cheeks and sense of taste - there could be issues here with Aries ruler Mars possibly causing symptoms to  "boil up" with its fiery attributes !!!

Venus in Aries is demonstrative ... we love the thrill of the chase of the person and/or object of our desire ... it is very outgoing and enthusiastic to the point of ending up sometimes becoming too aggressive and overwhelming ... most of the time it will be YOUR feelings and values that are center most on your mind instead of others .... it likes the novelty and newness of things and once that is over it can become very fickle and ready to move on ... it’s attracted to people who are independent, those with a lot of initiative, and certainly those who are creative with their originality !!!

Here pursuit of passion is the name of the game but once the object of your attention has been captured, you, the hunter, may move on by viewing it as another trophy to put on your Venusian shelf of love and desire ... one of the biggest misjudgments made under this energy is - MISTAKING SEX FOR ACTUAL LOVE OVER AND OVER !!!

Venus in Aries teaches us all about learning to love through doing - it's frequently referred to as energy that can easily produce love at first sight !!! ... this Venus likes a partner who is independent, the actual "chase", the social whirl, spontaneous and unexpected affection, and romance that is very bold ... it dislikes people who are too clingy and those who tend to be socially inactive ... the energy of  Venus in Aries can be expressed in the following ways :



POSITIVE: erotic, winning style, passionate, playful, demonstrative, outgoing, straightforward, popular, sparkling personality, generous, appealing, having a childlike charm, a romantic idealist, persuasive, warmhearted, quick to move



NEGATIVE: overly flirtatious, lustful, irresponsible, blunt, inconsiderate, coarse, not subtle, wanton, a teaser, naive in love, easily hurt, clueless, too pushy, self-centered, impatient in love

If you know which house or houses the sign of Aries occupies in your natal chart, then you will most likely figure out where and how this transit of Venus may play out in your own life in addition to your relationship to society as well ... for those born with the Sun in Aries, at some point during this Venus transit, it will pass over your natal Sun giving you a day to just enjoy the world, your friends, your creative efforts, and simply being alive !!!



ONE CAVEAT - Venus is the natural ruler of the 2nd house and therefore rules money earned as well as money SPENT ... you should be careful about "burning" through your personal money while Venus is in Aries as the purse strings will be significantly loosened and expanded by this "heated" energy and you may find yourself wanting to increase your material holdings and also be drawn towards the purchase of big ticket or luxury items only to find yourself thinking at the end of this transit - "AND I SPENT THAT MUCH MONEY BECAUSE ...??? " ... also, as Venus naturally rules the 7th house of partnerships and relationships both personal  and professional, you might also find yourself thinking that you may have accidentally "incinerated" some of these as well !!!

Aries born, the love light is now shining on YOU - take advantage of the added possibility of getting what you may so passionately ask for !!!

Venus is now transiting through the sign of Aries by itself, but during its extended transit will be joined along the way by the Sun and Mercury ... Venus remains in Aries until June 5th/6th depending on which time zone in which you live and you have probably guessed why at this point !!!

Venus will get no further than 10 degrees 50 minutes Aries when it begins its next retrograde journey on March 1st which will last until April 12th going from 10 degrees 50 minutes Aries back to 24 degrees 37 minutes Pisces ... Venus has been in its shadow point since January 28th !!!

NOW ... if this wasn't enough of a challenge, Mercury will take its first retrograde journey for 2025 from March 15th through April 7th going from 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries back to 26 degrees 49 minutes Pisces which obviously means it will be completely embedded in the upcoming Venus retrograde ... do these signs and degrees sound rather familiar in regard to the Venus retrograde ... so this makes it almost a necessary requirement to know in which house and/or houses these signs and degrees fall to determine in what area of your life these potential challenges per planetary retrograde may arise ... and how ironic both Mercury and Venus will be taking retrograde journeys beginning in Aries very shortly after Mars stations back into direct motion ... one more fact of interest (?), Mercury  enters its next shadow point on March 1st which is the day Venus stations retrograde ... gotta love the Universe and its perverse sense of cosmic humor, right ??? ... of course right !!!

Ultimately under this current extended transit of Venus the question becomes - Will sparks of romance or the emotional "daggers" of vengeance be flying as a result of this over heated energy of love and all of the mixed signals that may potentially occur ???

When Venus finally completes its transit through the sign of Aries, in addition to wondering if the means of the thrill of the chase truly justified the ends of what we did or did not get, we could find ourselves summing up our experiences of Venus in Aries in one of three ways - "My Love is On Fire", "Loves Labours Lost" or a "Total Eclipse of the Heart" !!! 

THE GREAT "AWAKENING" THROUGH LEARNING TO STABILIZE CONTINUES !!!

ZZZZZZZAP !!!! ... and just like that, there was definitely something electric in the air as the planet URANUS completed its retrograde journey for 2024, which began back on September 1st, 2024 and stationed back into direct motion on Thursday, January 30th, at 11:22 AM EST at 23 degrees 15 minutes Taurus !!!

URANUS DOES NOT PLAY AROUND !!! ... it is the planet representing sudden and unexpected change ... it is a shocker ... it gives flashes of insight, rebelliousness and originality ... it represents eccentricity, genius, inventiveness, revolution, intuition and the sixth sense, and everything that happens out of the blue!!! ... Uranus questions and challenges authority, and transcends business-as-usual social and cultural ideas to come to new solutions ... it absolutely insists on freedom but there is also an understanding here that freedom must be learned one step at a time!!! ... it rules electricity, technology, computers, and all things on the cutting edge ... most importantly - at least to me !!! - it is the planet that rules Astrology !!!

While Uranus was in retrograde motion, it was time for all of us to ask what changes are occurring in the world and how we are contributing to or working against these changes - the ability to see the importance between your own personal changes and the ones occurring globally, and the connection between the two, should have become a strong focal point !!!

Uranus has literally been slowing down to shift direction and hovering at 23 degrees of Taurus since around December 15th, so it may have felt like there was an edginess and restlessness on some level of our lives especially with Mercury being retrograde from November 26th through December 15th as well as Mars being in retrograde since December 6th, 2024 !!! ... since approximately January 27th, it was, from an astrological viewpoint, literally vibrating at a near stand still at the 23 degree 15 minute mark of Taurus sending out its potentially disruptive and erratic "electrically charged" energy which may have proved to be a very sensitive point in whatever area of life is ruled by where this degree is in your natal chart !!!

After Uranus stations direct, many may experience some kind of sudden and unexpected occurrence, particularly in regards to any of the previously above mentioned traits, happening to or around them or even perhaps in regards to the area of life ruled by whichever house in your natal chart this change in direction has occurred !!! ... has anything happened perhaps within the last week that was sudden and unexpected in some area of your life or the lives of others you know ??? ... or has anyone felt more edgy and restless without really knowing why ???

There could be a lot of us who experienced elevated tension during this period ... in some cases there was most likely a sudden and unexpected change made out of the blue - or even a confrontational situation arose we were not expecting ... and until the direct motion energy completely settles in, there could be many sudden and unexpected instances of rebellion, disruption, explosions - of many varieties, and confrontations !!!

This 151 day Uranus retrograde occurred from 27 degrees 15 minutes Taurus back down to 23 degrees 15 minutes Taurus ... if you've had a natal chart run, then you might get a good clue as to where this Uranus retrograde may have impacted your life especially the day that jolt of energy began moving outward and forward once again !!! ... now that Uranus is direct we can expect the potential for many changes especially with Pluto having just reentered Aquarius back on December 19th, 2024 ... it's time to start putting those changes in motion in a positive and not confrontational, rebellious or negative manner !!!

As Uranus is currently in the late stages of transiting through the sign of Taurus - where the lesson of this energy is all about "awakening" through learning to stabilize - the Universe has been giving not only Taurus born - who may have especially felt the impact of this retrograde - but everyone a glimpse of things to come and where CHANGE WILL NEED TO BE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED and WILL ULTIMATELY TAKE PLACE while Uranus transits Taurus ... Uranus is considered to be in its "fall" in Taurus as it opposite to the sign it is exalted in which is Scorpio ... in "fall", a planet can have difficulty in expressing its real nature ... it is said that in "fall", it's like the planet is visiting in someone else's house where it does not really feel comfortable ... so does this make its often disruptive, rebellious nature even more challenging or modify it somewhat ??? ... each individual will discover that on their own during this transit !!!

With Uranus in Taurus, once someone decides they want something they usually will stick to their commitment ... there are often extremely strong feelings about money either good or challenging ... it can produce financial ups and downs quite suddenly and unexpectedly ... often one will move towards more concrete, innovative ways of making money ... there is extreme determination and purpose, but carried to extremes it can greatly interfere and slow down ones progress ... it is said that materialistic attachments could limit ones freedom of expression and have a stifling effect on spiritualistic impulses ... and certainly it practically goes without saying, but I will, that knowing the house placement(s) where this transit will occur in your natal chart will be very important to understand where in your life this energy may strongly manifest in your life !!!

Uranus in Taurus has the potential to be very strong and can bestow willpower and determination ... Uranus was last in Taurus from 1934/1935 through 1942 ... this was the period of the worst of the Great Depression as well as the trigger for World War II !!!

Uranus takes roughly 7 years to completely transit through each sign of the zodiac ... it entered the sign of Taurus on May 15th, 2018 ... Uranus will not complete its transit through the sign of Taurus until April 25th/26th, 2026 depending on which time zone in which you live !!!

Aquarius born individuals, you may especially feel the forward jolt or thrust of this powerful energy as your period of "hibernation" is over and it's time to move forward once again as well as having the Sun currently in transit through your birth sign ... what have you been thinking about in your life since September 1st, 2024 that needed some kind of change - major or minor ??? ... what unique things did you discover about yourself, and where have you felt a need to break free from something or someone in order to express your individuality ???

Uranus remains in direct motion until September 6th ... this forward motion will take Uranus from 23 degrees 15 minutes Taurus up to 1 degree 27 minutes of Gemini - yes Uranus will begin its initial transit through the sign of Gemini briefly on July 7th, 2025 before taking its next retrograde journey ... so now we all have this energy - to be different, to be independent, to be rebellious, to have our own freedom and to do things suddenly and unexpectedly - thrust outward - LOOK OUT !!!

We are now being "charged up" to boldly and assertively move forward into this New Year to progressively bring about change and independence somewhere in our lives and within the collective in order to promote further personal and spiritual growth - "SHOCKING" ISN'T IT ???

A MENTALITY THAT IS EXPERIMENTAL, INNOVATIVE AND FUTURE ORIENTED AS WELL AS BEING CLEVER, ACCURATE, INVENTIVE AND INQUISITIVE !!!

MERCURY began its "unpredictable" transit through the intellectual, highly unconventional sign of Aquarius on Monday, January 27th, at 9:53 PM EST ... Mercury is considered to be in "exaltation" in the sign of Aquarius meaning it is in a sign other than the one it rules - in this case being Gemini and Virgo - where its energy is expressed very harmoniously and its forces are increased as well as its virtues are magnified !!! ... Mercury's last complete transit through Aquarius occurred from February 5th through February 23rd, 2024 ... Mercury is now in a "relationship" with Uranus, ruler of Aquarius, so expect the thinking and communicating to be potentially unique and even perhaps somewhat defiant - especially as Uranus stationed back into direct motion on January 30th !!!

Mercury in Aquarius makes the mind and tongue tend to be unconventional sometimes to the extreme of shocking other people ... yours truly was born with this placement and I can vouch for the truth of this statement !!! ... communication is made intelligently, objectively, openly, and independently... language used can be very individualistic and sometimes rebelliously ... one thinks for them self and usually resists other people's answers ... learning is best done through questioning authority and seeking out unique experiences ... the mind is experimental, innovative, and future oriented ... one wants to explore all possibilities while keeping options open ... there is the tendency to jump from idea to idea resulting perhaps from an intuitive flash or brainstorming ... one must be careful not to become a victim of fragmented or erratic thinking ... there are usually excellent verbal skills here ... one can be quite objective allowing them to talk with just about anyone ... connections are best made on an individual basis ... interests usually include anything new age - oh say like astrology, numerology and tarot - and anything unusual, different, technological or progressive ... this energy frequently gives one the mind of a computer as well as the soul of a rebel !!!

Mercury in Aquarius usually indicates a fine and clever mind that is accurate, inventive and inquisitive ... people born under this energy - like yours truly !!! - often take a great interest in other people and have excellent judgment of human nature ... there is a love of analyzing character and motivation, and the finely tuned powers of observation that accompany this energy allow one to predict accurately how someone will react in a given situation ... Mercury here makes one a rather notorious people-watcher, and gives one a broad and emotionally detached outlook ... Aquarius is known as the sign of the truth-seeker and that characterizes the way this mind works ... sometimes one may seem eccentric as the ideas are so advanced ... and one may also enjoy saying things simply to shock other people - absolutely priceless, right ???


Mercury in Aquarius gives the mind the need for a lot of stimulation and activity ... interests are pursued thoroughly because of the capability of pursuing a train of thought for very long periods ... one is also capable of great inventive originality ... there is a desire to understand how the Universe is linked together ... one must be careful here of the powerful tendency toward abstraction causing one to become too detached and end up living in a mental environment that may be a long way from the reality of others around you ... also one may find that the thoughts speed so fast that one forgets to finish sentences - thinking others will understand where your thoughts were going - or one finishes other people's sentences for them in order to get on to the next topic ... a benefit of this energy is becoming aware that the individual mind is ultimately NOT separated from the Universal mind !!!



Mercury in Aquarius is all about learning to think through liberating ... one perceives things mentally in a manner that seems to others as highly unlikely or even odd ... there is a definite streak of stubbornness running through the mind which is a result of having a sense of the "Truth" and understanding how things really  are ... one has to be careful of the inherent blind spot which is detached objectivity to the point of missing the emotional factors in a given situation ... one of the main challenges of this energy is to learn to communicate ones vision and help others see life from a point beyond their personal hopes and fears ... the energy of Mercury in Aquarius can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: original thinker, inventive, unorthodox, comprehensive, scientific, objective, concise, well-informed, unable to be shocked, open-minded, truth-loving, perceptive, progressive thinker, Utopian, reformist, socially aware, intuitive, cosmically aware, telepathic and inspiring mind

NEGATIVE: way-out thinker, cranky, irrelevant, disjointed, clinical, lacks warmth, abrupt, unfeeling, indifferent, fixed opinions, contrary, emotionally blind, out of "time", unrealistic, reactionary, anti-social, scatterbrained, spaced out, overactive mind



Mercury now joins the Sun and Pluto already transiting through Aquarius ...  that is a lot of energy driving us to be free-thinking, liberated and not putting up with any kind of limiting actions or restrictions !!! 

Mercury remains in Aquarius until February 14th - just in time for Valentines Day ... and then once it begins its transit through Pisces it will actually complete the first initial transit, but then get no further than 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries when it begins its first full retrograde journey for 2025 ... it will return to Pisces on March 29th per retrograde motion ... once direct Mercury will finish its complete journey through Pisces on April 15th/16th !!!  

HEADS UP !!! ...  Mercury begins its first retrograde journey for 2025 which will be a dual sign retrograde occurring from March 15th through April 7th going from 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries back to 26 degrees 49 minutes Pisces ... Mercury retrograde will be completely embedded in the upcoming Venus retrograde, yet another dual sign personal planet retrograde, occurring from March 1st through April 12th going from 10 degrees 50 minutes Aries back to 24 degrees 37 minutes Pisces ... notice these two retrograde periods are going to be occurring in the same signs and at very close degrees which should make it very interesting and in many cases challenging ... Mercury enters its next shadow point on March 1st - the day Venus begins its retrograde journey for 2025 - when it reaches 26 degrees 49 minutes Pisces ... an excellent reason to know where these signs and degrees fall in your natal chart which might give you a goo idea of where in life all of this backward energy as the potential to affect you !!!

During Mercury's transit through Aquarius, try thinking with a very open mind and remember that the truth often awakens like a flash of lightning - are you  prepared to be "struck" ???